Mother's Little Helper

Taylored Expressions October Studio Challenge

It's time for the Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge.  This is a monthly opportunity for the Taylored Expressions team to share what makes our stamping studios hum.  Each month we  have a fun, crafty question or theme so we can share our favorites, some tips and tricks, stamping advice and more.

The theme for October is: 

Never Felt Better!!

Felt is all the rage in crafting.  It's so thick and soft and gives that special warm and cozy feeling to fall and winter projects.  TE has 21 yummy colors to choose from, but do you ever just stare at all that felt and think, "Hmmmm...what should I do with it?"

Designers, show us a fun  project featuring felt.

Aah... the touch, the feel... the fabric of my craft room: FELT!  I do love to use felt in projects for added texture and dimension, especially in cooler weather; it's like a tiny blanket for my creations. 

For this month's challenge, I decided to make a little home decor piece which uses felt to emphasize that comfy-cozy feeling we associate with "home."

I took a plain white 6" x 6" canvas and made a sweet scene using images from the Rose Garden Estate stamp set.  Soft, fluffy clouds and thick, velvety grass were cut from Antique White and Grass Green Taylored Felt, using the Build-a-Scene Swirly Clouds and Grass Border dies in my Vagabond Die Cut Machine.  To make sure I get a clean cut through the felt the first time, I also use a metal shim in addition to my regular Vagabond cutting plate 'sandwich'. I adhered the felt to the cardstock with my go-to adhesive, Best Glue Ever, which really lives up to its name. To ensure delicate application, I always use a Precision Applicator Metal Tip in my BGE; I swear I can't make a single thing without this stuff!

Here's a close up of this lovely little Tudor-style cottage...

I want to go to there! I just love TE's Adorable Abode collection of stamp sets - they remind me of my Snow Village houses, which always make me happy.

Ready to see how the rest of the Baker's Dozen got felt up? (Hee - couldn't resist...)  Then head on over to these lovely ladies' blogs:

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Joan Ervin

Kerri Michaud

Pattie Goldman - Guest Designer

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

*rose garden estate	*grass border	*build a scene - swirly clouds	*taylored felt - grass green
*taylored felt - antique white	*copic markers	*choice snow white cardstock	*memento tuxedo black full pad
*foam tape - 1/8" thick	*best glue ever

InLinkz.com

Taylored Expressions September Studio Challenge

It's time for the Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge.  This is a monthly opportunity for the Taylored Expressions team to share what makes our stamping studios hum.  Each month we  have a fun, crafty question or theme so we can share our favorites, some tips and tricks, stamping advice and more.

The theme for September is:

We’re continuing our month-long TE Birthday Bash celebration with a special birthday-inspired Studio Challenge! Sometimes all we need to help us create is to simply see something that is beautiful, cool, or unique. Did you know that Taylored Expressions has over 30 boards on Pinterest filled with crafty eye-candy? We’d love to have you follow us at http://pinterest.com/tayloredexpress

Today’s challenge: choose a photo from Taylor’s Birthday Inspiration Pinterest Board to inspire a stamped creation!

When I clicked onto Taylor's Birthday Inspiration Pinterest Board, I was immmediately smitten with these sweet, tasty-looking monsters...

Nom-nom-nom, no?  The new Candy Monster stamp set with Coordinating Dies is a perfect complement to these cookie critters.  When I sat down to make my card, I knew I wanted to keep the color scheme similar, and utilize turquoise, purple, orange, and lime green.  Bright and cheerful, just as I like 'em! I got to work and came up with this:

I used the current Mojo Monday sketch (#312), and added a couple of rows of orange cross stiches for some extra detail.  Here's a close up of my little googlie-eyed candy freak.  Please notice his shiny treats (created with a little Glossy Accents).

And, because we're still celebrating TE's 5th Birthday, you're invited to play along in this month's Studio Challenge and be eligible to win some pretty fabby prizes!  Go to the Taylored Expressions Blog for all the details.  But first, you'll want to get fully inspired by checking out what my fellow Baker's Dozen teammates have put together for this month's challenge.  Can't wait to see what these oh-so-talented ladies have created for today!

Charmaine Ikach
Jen Shults
Joan Ervin 
Kerri Michaud
Sankari Wegman 
Shannon White
Shelly Mercado
Stephanie Kraft
Tammie Edgerton
Taylor VanBruggen
Wanda Guess

{A Very Belated} Taylored Expressions August Studio Challenge

(I promise - I will not twerk during this post. Just in case you were worried...)

Hello, gentle readers and Miley! I took an unexpected absence from blogging over the past week due to a little intestinal trouble. I could give you the gory details, but instead, I will take this opportunity to show you one of my favorite smileys:

I will spare you an illustration of the problems I was having with other orifices. (You are welcome!) Sadly, these issues did not result in significant weight loss, so I'm feeling a bit robbed. On the bright side, it's nice to be able to get a few feet away from a toilet without feeling panicky.

Would you like me to go on, or shall I show you the project I made for last week's Taylored Expressions' Studio Challenge. It's a week late, and mucho dinero short, but what the heck. Here goes!

It's time for the Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge.  This is a monthly opportunity for the Taylored Expressions team to share what makes our stamping studios hum.  Each month we  have a fun, crafty question or theme so we can share our favorites, some tips and tricks, stamping advice and more.

The question for August is:

The Sky's the Limit! There are so many ways to create sky backgrounds for our cards and projects.  Often times, our blog readers are left staring at a beautiful sky and asking "How'd she do that?"

Show us one of your favorite ways to create a pretty sky background and make sure we know how to re-create it!

My go-to method for creating a sky background is to airbrush it with alcohol ink markers.  Here are the basic supplies I need for such a project:

1. The image I'm going to use -- in this instance, a cute little hedgehog from TE's Stuck on You set.

2. Ink (my all time fave, Memento Tuxedo Black.  I use it on almost every card I make.)

3. Cardstock (this is TE's Choice Snow White, which is an excellent weight and works great with Copic markers)

4. Cloud template - see the little cloud in the circle dies above?  That's a die cut from TE's Cloud Duo dies that I re-use each time I make a cloud background.

4. Dies - I often like to leave a white margin around my colored images for a bit of pop, and also, it gives the optical illusion of another layer.  Thus, before I color in the background, I die cut the image layer and them tape the die around it.  (You'll see an image later that illustrates this.)

5. Eclipse Masking Tape - for masking off the image so my background doesn't become my foreground.

6. Copic Markers (or any other alcohol marker you prefer; I also like Spectrum Noir markers)

7. An airbrush system (I use Copic's)

Okily dokily.  Here are step-by-step instructions for one way to airbrush a sky background.

Die cut the shape you want your image layer to be (mine is a trapezoid circle).  Color in your image.

Stamp your image out onto whatever masking material you use (I use Eclipse Masking Tape, which I got a big roll of years ago.  I can't imagine I will ever run out.  A lot of people just mask with Post-It notes, but I like Eclipse's all-over sticky stuff for complete coverage). Cut out the mask, and place it on your image. (Note that I'm not bothering to mask the heart balloon.  I know I'm going to end up stamping that out a second time and then popping it up on foam squares for a little extra dimension, so it doesn't matter what it looks like on the base layer.)

Tape your layer shaped die on top of the image layer with removable tape. You can see I'm being very green and using some tape that I've used before. It's dirty, but still sticky. Take the cloud die, and get to airbrushing. Move it around here, there, and everywhere, using short bursts of ink as you lay it down.

Continue, until you get to the ground.  You'll see I added a bit of masking tape at the feet of the Hedgehog to make a grass layer, which I do now:

Looks messier in the photo above then it actually turns out.  See?

And here's my finished card - easy-peasy! 

If you haven't had a chance yet to check out the rest of the Baker's Dozens' August Challenges, here are direct links so you can be sure to do so.  I PROMISE you'll learn something new at almost everyone's blog - I know I did.

Charmaine Ikach
Jen Shults
Joan Ervin
Kerri Michaud
Sankari Wegman
Shannon White
Shelly Mercado
Stephanie Kraft
Tammie Edgerton
Taylor VanBruggen
Wanda Guess

Alrighty, gang.  I will definitely be back sooner than later as I have miles to stamp before August is over.  See you shortly!

Taylored Expressions June Studio Challenge

It's time for the Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge.  This is a monthly opportunity for the Taylored Expressions team to share what makes our stamping studios hum.  Each month we  have a fun, crafty question so we can share our favorites, some tips and tricks, stamping advice and more.

The question for June is:

What's on your summer reading list?  Are you a big reader or not?  If you are, what books have you read lately that you would recommend?  Do you have a favorite author or genre? How about something for sitting out by the pool, or the beach, or even just the backyard...some nice light summer reading? 

Do you use fancy bookmarks or do you dog-ear your pages?  Or, do you use an e-reader? Everyone can use bookmarks and they make great favors and gifts.  Let's see a little inspiration!

Oh, this month's challenge is so up my alley!  I am a HUGE reader; I don't leave home -- EVER -- without a book in my purse.  In fact, I feel naked if I don't have a book with me at all times.  I'm petrified at the idea of being stuck somewhere, waiting indefinitely, with nothing to read. Isn't that strange?  Some people feel that way about their phones.  Me?  I could honestly care less about having my phone with me, except that when I forget my phone (which is often), my husband and kids get very irritated with me.  I get irritated with myself if I don't have a book with me, though.  Books are truly my security blanket and refuge.

I have lots of authors whose work I love, and I like almost any and all genres.  I should be embarrassed to say this, but the latest series of books that I've loved was the 50 Shades of Grey Triology by EL James.  My husband gave me that book as a gag gift (of sorts) for Mother's Day 2012, and I finally finished reading it before Mother's Day this year.  After I slogged through the first 80 pages (It takes them that long to finally kiss...), I was hooked, and within a week or so, I'd finished all three books.  That's a record for me as I am not a terribly fast reader. 

I enjoyed the books so much, I had to create a little something special for Sean for Father's Day with a 50 Shades theme:

It's a 5"x7" altered canvas using TE's Boys Will Be Boys stamp set and lots of Bazzill card stock.  You might have seen it on Taylor's blog or the Bazzill blog when TE and Bazzill were have a cross-promotion a few weeks back.  Here's a close-up:

Yes, all those little ties were individually stamped, cut out, and popped up on foam boosters.  Sean liked it so much, he said he was going to display it in his senate office so more people could appreciate my handiwork.  Think they'll get the reference?  I guess if they do, then they're just as "bad" as me, huh? ;)

Lately, I've been doing a lot of reading on my Nook, but I am in no way a dedicated e-Reader.  I like any and all forms of reading.  And bookmarks are some of my favorite things to give/receive.  Here's what I made for today's challenge, using TE's Mark Your Spot Bookmark die and Mark Your Spot stamp set:

I'm hosting Bunco next week, and I like to give little hints as to the gifts, so whosever turn it is to pick a gift will have to hem and haw.  Increases the anxiety and anticipation!  Just call me Hitchcock... Anyway, I'm going to put this bookmark on the outside of this gift (once it's wrapped):

Don't you think that's appropriate?  Now I'm wanting this book for myself...

Tell me what you're reading this summer!  I love a good book recommendation.  And be sure to visit my fellow Baker's Dozen team mates to see their bookmarks and what's on their reading lists.

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Joan Ervin

Kerri Michaud

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

 

Supplies Used:

50 Shades Altered Canvas:

Stamps: Boys Will Be Boys (TE)
Dies: Oval from Labels Stacklets 3 (TE)
Paper (all Bazzill): Two Scoops Textured Card Stock, Date Swirl, Rock Candy, Marshmallow, Wax Lips
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Wild Cherry (MFT)
Accessories: blank canvas board (Hobby Lobby), bakers twine, foam boosters, scissors

Places Bookmark:

Supplies used:
Stamps: Mark Your Spot (TE)
Dies: Mark Your Spot Bookmark die (TE)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Choice Snow White card stock (TE)
Accessories: Copic Markers, Eclipse masking tape, tassel made from Green Apple Divine Twine

Taylored Expressions April Studio Challenge

It's time for the Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge.  This is a monthly opportunity for the Taylored Expressions team to share what makes our stamping studios hum.  Each month we  have a fun, crafty question so we can share our favorites, some tips and tricks, stamping advice and more.

The theme for April is:

Mix & Match!  TE stamp sets are designed with plenty of images and sentiments so they are "self-contained" for lots of creativity, but sometimes it's fun to mix and match several different sets for even more possibilities.

Your challenge is to create a project using three or more TE stamp sets.

Well, I may have mentioned this to you one or a hundred times lately, but at this time of year, I'm always in desperate need for graduation cards.  Thus, I endeavored to make a graduation card for this month's Studio Challenge.  Here's what I came up with:

I started off with the adorable new MOKA SKYLAR image as my foreground image.  Here she is, in her graduation finery:

I needed a sentiment/background image that would lend itself to a graduation-themed card, and the Dr. Seuss quote with the road & mountain scene from THE PLACES YOU'LL GO stamp set did both for me:

After adhering Skylar to the left hand side of the background layer, there sure seemed to be a lot of empty airbrushed sky in the upper right section of the background.  I decided to punch out the trendy chevron circle and 'congrats' sentiment from the current/April Stamp of the Month kit to add a festive embellishment and cover up some of that empty skyline.

Want to try mixing and matching stamp sets to challenge yourself, and/or get more use out of your favorite sets?  Then, in summation, my advice is:

• pick out a foreground image to build your card around,
• find an image from a different set to create a background, of some sort, that is in keeping with your foreground set,
• select an appropriate sentiment from another set, and
  
• find another set you can use to make an embellishment.

Ready to see what the rest of the oh-so-talented Baker's Dozen (and our fabulous Mar-April Guest Designer) have made to fulfill this month's Studio Challenge?  Then head on over to visit these lovely ladies' blogs:

Broni Holcombe

Carole Burrage

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Kerri Mchaud

Lynnette Kauffman

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Taylored Expressions March Studio Challenge

{If you're looking for my March i {heart} papers Design Team Challenge post, please scroll down}

It's time for the Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge.  This is a monthly opportunity for the Taylored Expressions team to share what makes our stamping studios hum.  Each month we  have a fun, crafty question so we can share our favorites, some tips and tricks, stamping advice and more.

The question for March is:

You oughta be in pictures!! 

We all love to share our completed projects with others on our blogs and in on-line galleries.  So, when the stamping ends, the photography begins.  This is a fun step for some and a frustrating one for others.  How is it for you?

Tell us how you get those beautiful project photos.

Well, it's a VERY sophisticated photography set up I have here at the ol' Burragio, let me tell you... 

Actually, I've just developed my own idiosyncratic system over the years that works well enough for me.  I'll give you a peek into my photography process.

First of all, I always take my card/papercrafting photos with a white background.  The reason for this is that I want the cards (or whatever) to be the star of the show, and to minimize distractions for the viewer.  I also like the consistency of this, since I move the location of where I take my photos depending on what time of day it is.

Ideally, I prefer to take my pictures in natural light.  If I'm photographing in the afternoon, when the sun is in the west, I take my photos in the window of my craft room, like so:

Pretty fancy, no?  So much depends on a piece of poster board and a binder clip...  This is a little adjustable medical table that I can roll around to where I need it.  I've got a piece of white poster board that's propped up against an ink turnstile and held in place with a binder clip. 

If I'm taking a photo at night, I use a light box.  This is my least favorite way to take a photo, but often it's necessary when working on deadline.  I keep my photo box up at all times, and it sits on top of a map chest located behind my desk and against a wall in my craft room:

My preferred time of day to take photos is in the morning, when the sun is in the east and not as harsh as the western sun.  When that occurs, here's my set-up:

Please note the dirty-pawed windows and the peanut gallery made up of my constant companions.  This photo is taken in my family room/great room.  The barstool is one of eight that surround the countertop bar that sections off the kitchen from the family room.  I like to the barstools because they have a high back that I can binder clip the posterboard to and upholstered seats that I can stick quilting pins in to help keep the posterboard in place.

I don't take my photos in direct sunlight as the glare is too harsh and causes shadowing on the photos. 

I believe the  camera and lens I use make a big difference in the clarity of my photos.  I use a Nikon D90 DSLR, and I take my card photos with a AF-S Nikkor 50mm F1.4 G lens that really bumps up the resolution.  It's a great camera and lens, and was a Christmas gift from my husband in 2011.

I also think photo editing is so, so important in showing off your paper crafting.  I use a really unsophisticated photo editing software program: iPhoto, which comes standard on any Mac computer.  I've bought various packages of PhotoShop, but have never taken the time to sit down and get familiar with it.  It intimidates me!  I've been using iPhoto for so many years (since at least 2002), that I know it well and it does most of what I need. 

For most photos, my photo editing process is pretty standard:

• select the clearest photo (I usually take 5-7 shots of a given project)
• straighten and crop
• use the auto-enhance button and see if that's an improvement
• I often end up adding exposure to my pictures because I hate dark pictures - I like 'em light & bright
• I occasionally will add a bit of saturation to the photo to beef up the colors
• I always sharpen the photo by at least 80%
• Then, last step, if there are any flaws (an ink smudge or a piece of lint on the backdrop), I retouch them
• I grab the photo and put it on my desktop.  I rename it, then I go into iWatermark (a software you can purchase and download over the web for Macs) and add my watermark.  iWatermark also resizes photos, and I generally resize my pictures to about 680 pixels and 72 dpi.

Here is my project photo, unedited:

And here it is, post-tweaking...

(I have to say, this image from Cuppie Love Scenes makes me giggle.  Cupcakes making out always gets me guffawing, and then there's the cranky cupcake trying to shush the Chatty Cathys in the middle seats...)

It truly doesn't take a lot of fancy equipment to take good photos of cards!  The biggest mistakes (in my opinion) that I see crafters making across the blogosphere and in galleries is that their pictures are too dark and that the photos on their blogs are too small.  If your photos are dark, try to take them in natural light and/or start playing with the exposure levels in your photo editing software.  Never assume someone is going to click a photo on your blog to enlarge it and get a closer look -- people are lazy!  (At least, I know I am -- there are too many blogs out there with big, clear photos for me to spend my time on blogs with poorly sized and/or lit photos.) I use Typepad to blog with and my photos are set to post at a width of 475 pixels (unless I change it). That's about as big as I can get them with the margins of my blog.  If I could make them bigger, I would!  A width of 500 pixels is probably ideal. If you use Blogger, or a blog service that has pre-set widths, bump that sucker up to 'large' or 'extra-large'!  Don't make me squint or have to put my face closer to the screen to see what awesome stuff you've created!

I think I've said all I can think of on this topic.  Make sure you go visit my fellow Baker's Dozen team mates to learn how they make their photos look so good - I'm hoping I can pick up some hints and tips, too!

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Kerri Mchaud

Lynnette Kauffman

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Supplies used from Taylored Expressions

• Stamps: Cuppie Love Scenes; sentiment from Moka Wanda
• Momento Tuxedo Black ink
• Copic Markers
• Foam Tape

Other supplies - Paper: patterned paper from Carta Bella True Friends 6x6 pad (IHP), Copic X-Press Blending cardstock (IHP), Haiwaiian Shores & Hibiscus Burst (PTI); Ink: Green Galore (SU!); Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilities, Doodlebug Cuppy Cakes Braddies

Taylored Expressions February Studio Challenge

(please scroll down if you're looking for my IHP February Design Team Challenge post)

It's time for the Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge.  This is a monthly opportunity for the Taylored Expressions team to share what makes our stamping studios hum.  Each month we  have a fun, crafty question so we can share our favorites, some tips and tricks, stamping advice and more.

The question for February is:

Recipe for success!  When you sit down to create a card just for fun, for the pure joy of stamping, without any type of assignment or deadline, what steps do you usually take?

Tell us how you get started and take us along on your creative journey.

1.  Unless I'm creating something for a particular type of challenge, my creative process inevitably starts with selecting an image.  I have so many uninked stamps ready and waiting for a little attention, I inevitably drift towards those I've purchased but haven't had a chance to use.  For example, for today's Studio Challenge, I couldn't wait to use the train image from TE's Life Is a Circus set; I think it's so fun & whimisical, and I know my 8-year-old train afficianado will get a kick out of it.

2. After selecting the image, my thoughts turn to what patterned paper I have that will coordinate best with the image.  If possible, I try to pick a pattern collection that is current (in other words, in the paper company's most recent release), but if I think there is a pattern in my stash (in other words, older paper no longer carried in stores) that's too perfect for the image for me to resist, I'll opt for what I consider the better fit over what's trendy. 

I want the card I make today to be a child's birthday card that can go unisex, so I selected some fun, bright papers from My Mind's Eye's new My Girl 6x6 pad.  (Despite the name of the pad, I think the papers will be fine for a boy, too.)

3.  Next, I hunt for a sketch that will fit the image I want to use.  I'm kind of lazy when it comes to sketches - if there's one out and about (especially if it's a current one) that fits, I'm happy to use it and give credit; why reinvent the wheel, you know?  Some of my favorite weekly sketch challenges include Mojo Monday (naturally!), the Sweet Sunday Sketch, and my fellow Baker's Dozen gal Jen Shults' Deconstructed Sketch.  I also have a bunch of sketches I've printed out over the years that I consider my go-to sketches, and I'll refer to those if need be.  (By the way, Taylor's got 161 AWESOME sketches that I refer to again and again that you can download by clicking on the TE Sketch Book badge on her blog's sidebar. One of my all-time favorites that I've used several times is TECC57.)

Because the train image is so horizontal, I opted to go with the sketch on the left of my clipboard versus the one on the right (it looks like it will be harder to fit my image with the circle feature of the right sketch than it will be to elongate the one on the left).

4.  Once I've got my stamp set, patterned paper and sketch figured out, then I start figuring out the rest of the card ingredients I'm thinking about using: cardstock (I am CONSTANTLY referring to the cardstock swatchbook I made last summer; it was a huge investment of time to make, but I can't emphasize enough how handy it's been), dies, embellishments, etc.  These inevitably end up changing as I make the card and figure out what works and what doesn't.

5. Next, I set about coloring my image.

Like my cardstock swatchbook, I keep my Copic or Spectrum Noir color guides close by when I'm stamping to select the markers I'm going to use.

6.  At long last, it's construction time...

For this card, I ended up modifying this week's Deconstructed Sketch by turning it from vertical to horizontal because it fit the train image better.  The baker's twine is supposed to resemble train tracks, and by laying the Small Scalloped Border die cut on top of the image panel, I was able to avoid creating some sort of grounding on the airbrushed sky background layer (score!).  I used a strip of yellow chevron washi tape at the bottom, but backed it with white cardstock so you wouldn't see the patterned paper show through underneath it.  If you look at the photo before my finished card, you'll see that I had originally planned to use white brads, but then thought better of it when I found the polka dotted red brads in my stash.

As I create my cards, I always keep a list of the materials I use so I don't leave anything out when it's time to create my blog posts or various gallery posts.

7.  I usually don't stamp or embellish the interior of my cards, but because I figure this will be a perfect one for a child's birthday (and I had the stamp set out in front of me), I thought I'd go ahead and stamp an interior sentiment.

8.  Something I ALWAYS do - sign my cards!  I'm a big believer in this, as I've expressed many times over the years on this blog...

I have lots of different stamps I use to do this, often corresponding to the company whose image I'm using.  This particular stamp is from TE's Signature Style set, which gives you 17 different ways to let recipients know you cared enough to make the very best. :)

9. Lastly, I file the card away into my card stash, because heaven knows if I leave it out, I'll spill something on it or mess it up some how.

I have four plastic stackable drawers for cards that I keep in a closet adjacent to my craft room.  They're divided by theme:

• humor/concern/love/baby/masculine
• birthday/thank you/congrats
• friendship
• seasonal

And there you have it!  That's how the sausage gets made here in Claremore, America. :)  Ready to see the mysterious inner workings of my fellow Baker's Dozen team mates creative processes?  I know I'm DYING to figure out their secrets...

• Carole Burrage
• Charmaine Ikach
• Jen Shults
• Kerri Michaud
• Lynnette Kauffman
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Tammie Edgerton
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess

Supplies used:

From Taylored Expressions: stamps - Life Is a Circus & Signature Style; paper - My Mind's Eye 'My Girl' 6x6 pad, Choice Snow White cardstock; ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Dies: Small Scalloped Border; Cloud Duo(for masking off airbrushed background); Accessories: Copic Markers

Other: paper - Pure Poppy (PTI), Tempting Turquoise (SU); ink: Wild Cherry (MFT); Accessories: Aqua Divine Twine (TCP), My Mind's Eye Yellow Deco-Tape (IHP), Nestabilities Labels 17, Corner Chomper, Queen & Co. polka dot brads, Jody's foam boosters

Taylored Expressions January Studio Challenge REDUX!

 

Yes, it's true!  I'm back with my SECOND post of the day!  Why, you ask?  Because I'm just so dedicated to keeping you entertained, and also because I didn't read the instructions properly on this month's studio challenge and I wanted to rectify that.  But mostly for the former reason... ;)

I realized as I was gazing adoringly at my fellow team members' creations that everyone had made more than one card/project except me.  Hmmm... I thought to myself, I wonder if that's a coincidence?  I went back and re-read the challenge, and what to my wondering eyes should appear?

"Show us at least 2 simple, easy-to-recreate cards featuring some of the items on the shopping list."

 

Gah!  If you've already seen my first post (good little reader!  I <3 you!), feel free to skip over the next paragraph.  If you haven't read the earlier post and/or need a refresher, here's this month's Studio Challenge:

Helpin' out a newbie!  It's so exciting when a friend discovers the joys of stamping. But do you remember how overwhelming it was to decide what to get when you were new to the craft?

You have a {hypothetical} friend who started stamping less than a year ago and she is loving it!  She has some Christmas money burning a hole in her pocket, and she has seen your fabulous TE creations, so  she is asking for your advice on what stamping supplies to purchase. So let's hear your sage advice!

I determined that IFfy (my Imaginary Friend) had a few basic stamping supplies, like scissors, acrylic mounts, and adhesives, but that was pretty much it.  She also had $100 to spend at the Taylored Expressions store (probably a gift certificate from me, because I'm such a generous friend, and just an all-around-beautiful person, inside and out.  At least, that's what IFfy said when I gave her her present).  I came up with $99.34 worth of products I thought would make a good start as she falls into the rabbit hole known as 'paper crafting.'  Those items were:

• TE Choice Cardstock in Buttercream and Snow White
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• TE Stamps Sets: Rose Bouquet, Stargazer Lily Bouquet, and Many Minis - Occasions
• A Taylored Expressions Project Pantry Kit, such as the new Love Letters - Basic Recipe kit
• 7 Copic Sketch markers: R20, R22, Y21, YG03, YG17, B00, and the Colorless Blender.

(Scroll to read my previous post for my reasoning behind these choices.)

In my last post, I showed you this card, using the Rose Bouquet set and papers from the Love Letters Project Pantry kit:

Now, here's a second card I threw together in just a few moments, using the Stargazer Lily Bouquet and Many Minis - Occasions sets:

SUPER clean-and-simple, but appropriately elegant for a concern or sympathy card.  So glad that - for once - I'm actually going to have one of these ready in my stash when I need it!  Hopefully that won't be for a long, long time, though.  All card ingredients came from the list above (the cardstock is yummy TE Choice Buttercream).  And in case you're wondering where IFfy got that seam binding?  She upcycled it from the gift wrap my gift to her came in.

I feel better now! And you got two posts in one day to read!  WIN-WIN!  I bet Stephen Covey is smiling down on us from heaven...

If you haven't done so yet, be sure to check out what the rest of the Baker's Dozen have suggested to their IFfys:

• Charmaine Ikach
• Jen Shults
• Kerri Michaud
• Lynnette Kauffman
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Tammie Edgerton
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess

Manana, muchachas!

Taylored Expressions January Studio Challenge

Hey there!  I'm so excited to be playing in my first Taylored Expressions' Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge!  In case you're wondering exactly what the Studio Challenge is, here's the skinny:

This is a monthly opportunity for us to share what makes our stamping studios hum.  Each month we have a fun, crafty question so we can share our favorites, some tips and tricks, stamping advice and more.

Here's the DIFFICULT challenge our DT Coordinator, Jami, put before us:

Helpin' out a newbie!  It's so exciting when a friend discovers the joys of stamping. But do you remember how overwhelming it was to decide what to get when you were new to the craft?

You have a {hypothetical} friend who started stamping less than a year ago and she is loving it!  She has some Christmas money burning a hole in her pocket, and she has seen your fabulous TE creations, so  she is asking for your advice on what stamping supplies to purchase. So let's hear your sage advice!

Hmm...  She's already stamping some and loving it, so obviously, I can't give her the advice her husband would most appreciate, which is: RUN LIKE THE WIND AND DON'T LOOK BACK!  Stamping will become an obsession that consumes you -- mind, body, soul, and bank account!  (But it is a lot of fun, you know.  And you meet the best people...) Anyway, assuming it's too late for that, that she has $100.00 and some bare-bones supplies (like scissors, acrylic mounts, and adhesives), here's what I'd tell her to invest in:

• Good quality neutral cardstock: My favorite these days is TE's Choice Buttercream, and TE Choice Snow White is also a must have.  A package of 20 sheets runs $4.50, so subtract $9 from the budget.
  
• Momento Tuxedo Black ink: My go-to ink of choice, especially when coloring with Copic Markers. (-$5.19)
• All purpose stamp sets: I know this is going to surprise many of my long-time readers who are aware that I am flower-challenged, but I would suggest some of TE's floral sets, like Rose Bouquet and Stargazer Lily Bouquet (my all-time favorite flowers :) ).  Why?  Well, you can use them for any occasion, from child-birth to sympathy and everything in between.  Secondly, if decide to invest in Copic Markers (which I'm going to have my imaginary friend do, in just a second), there is nothing better to learn on than a good floral.  If you can master flowers, you can color just about anything.  Another all-purpose stamp set she should consider is Many Minis - Occasions.  This sentiment set is FULL of just about any expression you could need.  (-$8.95+-$8.95+-$13.95= -$31.85)
• Taylored Expressions' Pantry Kits: These kits are an extraordinarily cost-effective way to get trendy patterned paper with coordinating sheets of colored cardstock and embellishments.  Seriously wish I'd had access to these when I started stamping!  TE's latest offering is the Love Letters Project Pantry Kit. (-$11.95)
• Copic Markers:  *sigh.*  Where do you even begin to start?  Well, I just decided to make a card using all of the supplies I've listed thus far and incorporating my most frequently used Copics, including my favorite greens (YG03, YG17), pink/reds (R20,R22), yellow (Y21), blue (B00), and the MUST HAVE Colorless Blender. 
  Right now, all Copic Sketch Markers are on sale at TE for just $5.95, so the grand total on this investment would be... $41.65.

Let's see if I stayed under budget:  9 + 5.19 + 31.85 + 11.95 + 41.65 = $99.34!!!!!!

(Can't believe I actually did that!  Yay!  I really didn't know if I would until I just added 'em up there.)

Now, are you ready to see what I made using most of said ingredients?  I didn't use a couple of the stamp sets I mentioned (she says, proudly); my friend can venture out on her own with those. 

I used this week's Splitcoaststamper's CAS (Clean and Simple) Challenge, which was a sketch challenge, as the basis of my card.  Like coloring florals, I'm a firm believer that if you can master CAS, you can do all the multi-layerd stuff, too.  CAS has to be spot-on precise; every little imperfection shows (like the fact that I pressed too hard on the left-side of the sentiment... oh, well.  Wabi-sabi!). 

You'll find much better-colored bouquets in the TE Gallery of the Rose Boquet set, but here's a close-up of mine so you can see the little flecks of yellow in this pinky-peachy variety.  Not sure what the official name for these are, but feel free to call them "Grand Empress Carole"... ;)

Be sure to visit the other members of the Baker's Dozen today to see how they tackled this challenge and had their friends spend their Holiday moo-lah:

• Carole Burrage (me - you're already here so you don't have to click me again, unless you just want to... ;) )
• Charmaine Ikach
• Jen Shults
• Kerri Michaud
• Lynnette Kauffman
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Tammie Edgerton
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess

Farewell, comrades!  I'll see you in the 'morrow with another sweet lil' somethin'! :)